Ham bag



L. A. o" LENA March 11, 1930.

HA! BAG Filed April 25 1928 Patented Mar. 11, 1930 PATENT OFFICE LOUIS A. OLENA, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK HAM BAG Application filed April 25,

My invention relates to bags or covers used to enclose and protect joints of meat, usually hams, during curing or smoking.

The general object is to provide a cheap 5 cover or bag which readily conforms to the relatively large butt and smaller shank of the ham, is easily applied, and has facility for accommodation of a cord connected to the shank, for suspension of the covered ham during curing.

The cover in a preferred form consists of a unitary seamless knit-fabric tube, including an upper, relatively tightly knit portion to enclose the ham shank, and a lower, relatively loosely knit and expansible portion to enclose the butt.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention are further sufliciently explained in connection with the following detail cle- 20 scription of the accompanying drawing,

which shows one exemplifying embodiment. After considering this, skilled persons will understand that variations may be made without departing from the principles disclosed, and I contemplate the employment of any structures that are properly within the scope of the appended claims.

Fig. 1 shows the bag or cover ready for application to a ham.

- Fig. 2 shows the bag applied to a ham,

which is suspended for curing.

The bag or cover in a preferred form consists of a unitary seamless knitted-fabric tube of which the upper portion 1 is relatively tightly knit, and the lower portion 2 is relatively loosely knit, so that, although the continuous tube may be produced in a tubular knitting machine of fixed diameter, the upper portion after completion is relatively narrow and the lower portion is somewhat wider, owing to the relatively close and loose weaves of the respective parts. The upper portion may be somewhat less than one-half the total length of the bag, to allow for the necessary length of the lower portion, in order to conform to the greater mass of the ham-butt, with allowance of a margin for tying as will appear.

The upper end of the bag is preferably partly closed by short side seams 3, connecting 1928. Serial No. 272,770.

together side portions of the upper margin, and leaving a central opening 4 to accommodate a suspension cord, as later referred to.

The cover or bag is applied to the ham as shown in Fig. 2, by inserting the end of the ham shank into the open lower end 5 of the bag, and pulling the bag down to enclose the ham, the relatively loosely knit or expansible lower bag portion 2 readily stretching to accommodate the large butt portion of the ham, while the closer knit upper portion properly conforms to the smaller contour of the shank. The lower part of the bag is pulled down far enough to provide a margin which is drawn together and secured. by a tie string, 6, Fig. 2. The top opening or mouth 4 provides for passage therethrough of a suspension cord 7, which passes through the shank.

By reason of the resilient, knit construction and the relatively tight and loose weave of its respective parts, the bag conforms closely to the shape of the ham and properly protects it during curing.

I claim:

1. A bag or cover for purposes described, consisting of a unitary, seamless, knitted tube, one portion of which is relatively tightly knitted and another portion relatively loosely knitted, whereby the respective portions are adapted to conform to small and large portions of a ham or other meat-joint, the upper end of the tightly knitted portion having its margins connected by side-seams, providing a restricted opening to accommodate a suspension cord connected to the ham-shank, when the bag is applied thereto.

2. A bag or cover for purposes described, consisting of aunitary, seamless, knitted tube, one portion of which is relatively tightly knitted and another portion relatively loosely knitted, whereby the respective portions are adapted to conform to small and large portions of a ham or other meat-joint, the loosely knitted portion being of a length enabling it to conform to and enclose the hambutt, and also providing a free margin which may be pulled together and secured by a tiestring.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

LOUIS A. OLENA. 

